Berkeley County Magazine

Primary Learning, Berkeley County School District

The Berkeley County School District’s vision is to challenge and empower students to be successful in a highly competitive world. Our exceptional schools are a contributor to a quality of life which attracts families from all over the country, and our legacy of success is going strong.

Nationally accredited, nationally recognized

The district is home to 40 schools serving nearly 30,000 children in pre-kindergarten through the twelfth grade. At 1,229 square miles, it’s one of the largest districts in the state, and our attractive location and vibrant economy make it one of the fastest growing as well. International accreditation by AdvancED validates quality programs, and nationally recognized schools such as the 2010 National Blue Ribbon School — Howe Hall Arts Infused Elementary School, and the 2010 National School to Watch – College Park Middle – underscore a commitment to providing youth with the best educational opportunities available.

Districts across the nation are focusing on Berkeley’s model programs in school counseling, risk management, dropout prevention and career academies, as well as highly touted athletic programs. The district’s innovative work is being studied nationwide, with programs such as the Star Academy, Project Lead the Way and the Berkeley County Middle College garnering state and national attention.

Opportunities for Every Child to Succeed

The district’s mission is to ignite, in every student, a passion for life-long learning, by offering a rigorous curriculum, along with choice options that allow students to design their unique pathway to success. Advances in early childhood development have spurred one of the largest K3-5 programs in the state, providing our youngest residents with a head start on the road to success.

In addition to providing top quality early childhood learning, the district offers innovative programs at all levels that poise children for success. Today’s choice portfolio of programs and schools-within-schools includes:

International Baccalaureate Programme

K-12 arts infused magnet

Drop-out intervention academy

Montessori pilot

Single-gender program

Evening high school

Gifted and talented program

Advance placement and dual credit coursework

Extensive career and technical program

Additionally, the district operates the only Middle College in the Lowcountry, where students can complete college level coursework in conjunction with their high school studies.

Quality Teachers Inspire Impressive Outcomes

Berkeley County schools attract quality educators with proven leadership, a collaborative working environment and exceptional facilities and technology. Over sixty-percent of the district’s teachers hold advanced degrees, and an average of 13 years of teaching experience. Twelve-percent of Berkeley teachers are Nationally Board Certified.

Berkeley County schools scores rank above the state average in key standardized tests such as the SAT and the High School Assessment Program (HSAP). The district’s results in the Palmetto Assessment of State Standards (PASS) are above the state average in 80% of the target areas. Graduation rates rose to seventy-five percent last year, while drop-out rates declined to an historic low of two-percent. The district received a Good growth rating on the state’s school report card, with more than half of its schools receiving Palmetto Gold and Silver Awards for performance or closing the achievement gap.

Along with rigorous academic curriculum, students explore an array of opportunities in arts and athletics with a full K-12 arts infused magnet program, and nationally recognized high school athletic programs. Students make a strong standing every year in art and athletic competitions, garnering top spots at the state and national level. In 2011, the district’s athletic teams won two state championship spots in football as well as championships in wrestling, boys’ track and field, girls’ track and field and girls’ basketball. Berkeley teams racked up five regional championships in football as well as regional championships in girls’ softball, boys’ baseball, boys’ track and field, girls’ track and field and boys’ and girls’ basketball.

Top Ranked Scholars

In 2011, the district certified its largest graduating class with 1,759 graduates. These graduates received a record number of academic and athletic scholarship offerings, totaling nearly $30 million. Graduates continue on to top ranked higher education institutions, the military, technical colleges and the career world, ready to take on the challenges of a highly competitive world.

Focusing on the future

The district is looking to the future, and building ways to equip students with twenty-first century skills. With a focus on technology, students are exposed to the tools of tomorrow, via smart boards in virtually every classroom, computer labs, tablets, e-readers, video production studios, digital design and engineering suites and more. Schools collaborate with valuable business partners to provide career and technical training in critical areas such as STEM – science, technology, engineering and math – to prepare students with the skills needed to succeed in today’s highly technical workforce.

The Berkeley County School District is proud to be building a legacy of success in the Lowcountry. Families are invited to tour the facilities, meet the faculty, and learn more about how they can become a part of the tradition.

For information visit www.berkeley.k12.sc.us or call 843-899-8611.

Private Education Opportunities

A number of quality private education options, from pre-school through high school, exist within Berkeley County and just outside of our county line:

St. John’s Christian Academy

Bishop England High School

Oakley Christian Academy

New Life Christian Academy

Northwood Academy

Faith Christian School Ridge Christian Academy

Crowfield Academy

Pinewood Preparatory School

St. Luke’s Children Center

The Christian Academy of Charleston

Miracle Academy Preparatory School

Trinity Christian Academy

St. Timothy’s Children’s Center

Divine Redeemer School

Happy Faces Childcare and Learning Center

Collegiate

Berkeley County is proud to have a number of nationally recognized, quality higher education options easily accessible to residents. Schools offering numerous Doctorate, Masters Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, specialized certificate and personal enrichment programs for all ages are located within Berkeley County or just a short drive away.

Charleston Southern University

In addition to being named one of South Carolina’s largest accredited, independent universities, Charleston Southern University (CSU) has been named to the John Templeton Foundation’s Honor Roll of Character Building Colleges and listed as one of America’s 100 Best College Buys. CSU is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and offers more than 30 undergraduate majors and fourgraduate programs in: Business, Criminal Justice, Education and Nursing.

Each degree program is combined with a comprehensive liberal arts foundation, which is designed to develop problem-solving and communication skills.
www.csuniv.edu

Trident Technical College

Trident Technical College (TTC) offers over 150 programs of study housed in 12 different academic divisions. From certificates to University transferable associate degrees, TTC offers programs at three campuses and in a variety of formats and instructional modes.
www.tridenttech.edu.

College of Charleston

The College of Charleston (COC) is a nationally recognized, public liberal arts and sciences university. Founded in 1770, the COC is among the nation’s top universities for quality education, student life and affordability. COC offers a distinctive combination of a beautiful and historic campus, modern facilities and cutting-edge programs. Students from all 50 states and 71 countries choose COC for its small-college feel blended with the advantages and diversity of an urban, mid-sized university.
www.cofc.edu

The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)

As South Carolina’s only comprehensive academic health center providing a full range of programs in the biomedical sciences, the Medical University of South Carolina is engaged in activities statewide. Its campus is located on more than 50 acres in the city of Charleston. Over 2,400 students take courses of study in six colleges: Dental Medicine, Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy. www.musc.edu

The Citadel

The Citadel is a landmark in Charleston and South Carolina that is noted for its educational reputation as well as its rich history. Founded in 1842, The Citadel is best known nationally for its Corps of Cadets which draw students from over 40 states and a dozen countries. The Citadel is divided into five academic schools: Business, Education, Engineering, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Science and Mathematics. Because of its focus on teaching, a high graduation rate and strong alumni support, The Citadel has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the top public college in the south for institutions granting up to a master’s degree.
www.citadel.edu

Webster University

Webster University is dedicated to academic excellence, innovation in higher education, meeting students’ needs in an ever-changing world and incorporating an international perspective throughout the curriculum. This private, nonprofit, accredited university offers both undergraduate and graduate education. Currently the university enrolls about 22,000 students around the globe who range from traditional college-age students to adult learners. Webster’s students represent more than 100 nationalities.
www.webster.edu

ECPI University

ECPI University (ECPI) offers a variety of educational options, including programs to earn diplomas, Associates, Bachelor and Masters degrees. ECPI University features diverse areas of study in the Technology, Business, Health Science and Culinary fields. ECPI University also offers career services, career workshops and graduate employment services.
www.ecpi.edu

Miller-Motte Technical College

Over the past 20 years, Miller-Motte Technical College (MMTC) has added several key programs that have served the needs of the business and health care communities and provided even better employment opportunities for their graduates. Miller-Motte schools are in a continual process of reviewing, assessing, and revising their curriculum in order to keep pace with improvements in technology and the increasing needs of business and industry.
www.miller-motte.com

Lowcountry Graduate Center

The Lowcountry Graduate Center was created to expand opportunities for graduate education in the Charleston region, thus fostering economic growth and workforce development in our community. Working with its partnering institutions, the College of Charleston, The Citadel, MUSC, USC, and Clemson, the LGC continually assesses the educational needs of the Lowcountry and seeks to develop programs that respond to those needs. The LGC is centrally located in North Charleston on International Blvd., near the Charleston International Airport.
www.lowcountrygradcenter.org

Centura College

Centura College offers fast track affordable college programs allowing adult students to finish school, develop real world skills, and advance their careers. Centura College offers a number of opportunities and programs.
www.centuracollege.edu

(Information complied from the respective website of each college/university)

Berkeley County School District Accolades

Stratford High School’s Computer-Design Students Secure First Building on Google Earth The first Moncks Corner “cyber-building” is the original Berkeley High School, drafted by the students as part of their Moncks Corner History and Web Project. The model was created by senior, Nicholette Alonge. You can find the building by going online to Google Earth and searching for 107 East Main Street, Moncks Corner, S.C. The students are working on several more buildings, and have all become Adobe Certified Associates in Dreamweaver. The students have also been busy working on a video of recorded oral histories of individuals with ties to early history of schools in Berkeley County.

TWO 2011 State Football ChampionsThe Timberland High football team won the Class AA Division I State Championship with a 20-3 victory over Woodruff. The senior class finished with a record of 51 and 4 to become the winningest class in Timberland History. Meanwhile, the Goose Creek High football team won the Class AAAA Division II State Championship with a 37-21 win over Greenwood.

Stratford High gains national honors in WordMasters ChallengeStudents entered into the national WordMasters Challenge must analyze texts that can range from short stories to essays. More than 54,000 students from 46 states participated in this year’s challenge. Stratford High’s Kelsey Vollmer placed among the 158 highest-scoring twelfth graders in the entire country.

Berkeley High Student in International Running to be “Voice of McDonald’s” – Moncks Corner Mayor pro tem, David Kizer, presented Berkeley High student Julie Marion a certificate of recognition for being one of twenty-two U. S. semifinalists in the international Voice of McDonald’s singing contest. The annual competition showcases the talents of crew and managers worldwide.

Schools Cited as One Reason Goose Creek Among “Best Places to Raise Your Kids”
Bloomberg Businessweek has again picked Goose Creek among its “Best Places to Raise Your Kids.” The annual list includes one municipality from each state. It’s the second year in a row that Goose Creek received the honor. Businessweek notes the area’s assets, “from great parks to solid schools, to rolling bike trails.” The magazine also notes the city’s median income and math and reading scores that are ahead of the state average. Goose Creek and Hanahan schools recently performed well in South Carolina’s annual Report Card, each school was rated average or better with eight rated excellent. Businessweek determines its annual “Best Place” ranking by looking at crime rates, population and median family incomes, as well as several other factors focused on quality-of-life issues.

Stratford Teacher Tapped to Lead Southern Business Education AssociationStratford High School Business Teacher, Debbie Castles was elected President-Elect of the Southern Business Education Association at the annual business meeting held recently in Orlando, Fla. The purpose of the association is to promote better business education in the Southern Region and throughout the nation. The SBEA represents over 3,000 business educators from 12 states.

Sedgefield Student Wins Subway Poster Contest, Fitness GrantTo create awareness of the issue of childhood obesity, local Subway restaurants partnered with the Carolina Panthers on the Subway Fresh Fit Video and Poster Competition for elementary and middle school students. Subway spokesperson Jared Fogle visited Sedgefield Intermediate to congratulate fifth-grader, Natalie Cobena, who was one of two students in the region to be selected as a grand prize winner in the contest. Her poster netted a $1,000 fitness grant for the school and $1,000 in Subway gift cards for her family.

Student Art Featured in S.C. House of Representatives Building
The Congressional Art Competition honors excellent works of art by high school students across the nation each year. Cane Bay High senior Samuel Amaya’s artwork has been chosen to hang in the U.S. Capitol until May 2012. Samuel’s picture is a colored pencil portrait of his cousin “Daisy.” Standing beside him are his art teacher, Barbara Richardson and Principal Lee Westberry.

Stratford Principal Keynotes at National Conference
Stratford Principal Conrad Lopes presented a session entitled, “Transitioning Great Teachers into Great Principals,” at the Education Trust National Conference in Arlington, Virginia. The session focused on identifying promising teachers as leaders and then creating learning experiences for them. He concluded that presentation with a webinar for the Trust on “Creating a Culture and Climate of High Expectations,” which was viewed remotely by education professionals across the nation.